Updated 9:18 am, Thursday, September 17, 2015

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story misspelled Leif Solem's last name.

Albany

There is so much that's wrong with how Officer Glenn Szelest treated a street musician that it's hard to know where to begin.

Should we start with Szelest's casual dismissal of Leif Solem's free-speech rights? Or was it worse that the officer snatched the phone held by Cat Jones, who was recording the confrontation?

Hmm, I don't know. The worst moment may have been when Szelest declared that the pair were "aggressive panhandlers" as he called for backup — a wild description with no basis in reality.

Then there was the officer's apparent ignorance of the law when he implied that Solem needed a permit to perform on downtown streets.

"Go down to City Hall, go see the clerk, they'll explain everything to you — First Amendment or nothing," Szelest said.

Except there's no need for an Albany street performer to see the clerk. No permit is required.

OK, so it's obvious that the widely seen video of Szelest harassing Solem and Jones last week is a bad look for the Albany Police Department, which said the officer "potentially acted inappropriately" and pulled him off patrols.

Image 1of/8

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 8

In a video posted on Youtube, musician Leif Solem is told by Albany Officer Glenn Szelest that he is not allowed to perform on the sidewalk without a permit. Solem was playing on North Pearl Street standing in the doorway of an empty storefront when he was accused, by Officer Szelest, of impeding foot traffic. (Cat Jones via Youtube) ORG XMIT: MER2015091415294508 less

In a video posted on Youtube, musician Leif Solem is told by Albany Officer Glenn Szelest that he is not allowed to perform on the sidewalk without a permit. Solem was playing on North Pearl Street standing in ... more

Image 2 of 8

In a video posted on Youtube, musician Leif Solem is told by Albany Officer Glenn Szelest that he is not allowed to perform on the sidewalk without a permit. Solem was playing on North Pearl Street standing in the doorway of an empty storefront when he was accused, by Officer Szelest, of impeding foot traffic. (Cat Jones via Youtube) ORG XMIT: MER2015091415295009 less

In a video posted on Youtube, musician Leif Solem is told by Albany Officer Glenn Szelest that he is not allowed to perform on the sidewalk without a permit. Solem was playing on North Pearl Street standing in ... more

Image 3 of 8

In a video posted on Youtube, musician Leif Solem is told by Albany Officer Glenn Szelest that he is not allowed to perform on the sidewalk without a permit. Solem was playing on North Pearl Street standing in the doorway of an empty storefront when he was accused, by Officer Szelest, of impeding foot traffic. (Cat Jones via Youtube) ORG XMIT: MER2015091415294406 less

In a video posted on Youtube, musician Leif Solem is told by Albany Officer Glenn Szelest that he is not allowed to perform on the sidewalk without a permit. Solem was playing on North Pearl Street standing in ... more

Image 4 of 8

In a video posted on Youtube, musician Leif Solem is told by Albany Officer Glenn Szelest that he is not allowed to perform on the sidewalk without a permit. Solem was playing on North Pearl Street standing in the doorway of an empty storefront when he was accused, by Officer Szelest, of impeding foot traffic. (Cat Jones via Youtube) ORG XMIT: MER2015091415294004 less

In a video posted on Youtube, musician Leif Solem is told by Albany Officer Glenn Szelest that he is not allowed to perform on the sidewalk without a permit. Solem was playing on North Pearl Street standing in ... more

Image 5 of 8

Downtown routes such as Steuben Street, shown here on Tuesday afternoon, are routinely empty and could benefit from the vitality brought by street performers. (Photo by Chris Churchill / Times Union)

Downtown routes such as Steuben Street, shown here on Tuesday afternoon, are routinely empty and could benefit from the vitality brought by street performers. (Photo by Chris Churchill / Times Union)

Image 6 of 8

Leif Solum attempted to bring his art to North Pearl Street, which could benefit from the vitality. And what did he get for his effort? Harassment, and a disorderly conduct citation. (Photo by Chris Churchill / TImes Union) less

Leif Solum attempted to bring his art to North Pearl Street, which could benefit from the vitality. And what did he get for his effort? Harassment, and a disorderly conduct citation. (Photo by Chris Churchill / ... more

Image 7 of 8

Street musician Leif Solum says he's performed in dozens of cities, including Seattle, Chicago, New York, Dublin, Oslo and Taipei. Not once has he been hassled by police, until last week in downtown Albany. (Photo by Chris Churchill / Times Union) less

Street musician Leif Solum says he's performed in dozens of cities, including Seattle, Chicago, New York, Dublin, Oslo and Taipei. Not once has he been hassled by police, until last week in downtown Albany. ... more

Consider that Szelest's reaction to Solem suggests that spontaneous music and vitality are so rare downtown that they take police by surprise. It also suggests that Albany's powers-that-be would prefer to keep it that way.

"Sorry, folks, but we just can't have art and music and life on the streets of Albany, because, you know, it might actually attract people. We prefer our sidewalks nice and empty. They're easier to control that way..."

I'm not here to bash downtown Albany. I'm optimistic about its future. There's more charm there than people think, and downtown has the potential to be the most dynamic part of the city.

More Information

But it's not there yet. Much of downtown continues to suffer from what Jane Jacobs called "the great blight of dullness."

What that means, essentially, is that if you walk from the Capitol to, say, the Palace Theatre, you're unlikely to pass anything that would slow your pace.

Most days, you won't pass a street performer who would encourage you to stop and watch. You'll find few stores that would compel you to pop in for some spontaneous browsing.

Bookstore? Not here. Grocery? No, although one is on the way.

Into this gray zone of monotony stepped Solem, who performs under the name Leif Mulch. (Get it?) He attempted to bring a little life to North Pearl Street.

What did he get for his effort? A disorderly conduct citation.

New Orleans this ain't. Nor is this Saratoga Springs, or even Troy.

Solem says he's performed in dozens of cities, including Seattle, Chicago, New York, Dublin, Oslo and Taipei. Not once has he been hassled by police.

Oh, Albany. Is this what you want to be?

Watch Solem on YouTube — singing, not being hassled by police — and it's obvious he's talented. The city should be begging him to sing downtown. It should be inviting less-talented artists to perform, too.

Heck, at this point I'd even welcome a few mimes into the mix — anything to bring energy to lifeless sidewalks.

I walked around downtown on Tuesday afternoon. The weather was ideal, but there was hardly anybody around. Charming side routes like Maiden Lane and Steuben Street were almost entirely devoid of people.

And yet a street musician was considered a problem?

To have a healthy downtown, one that encourages people to linger and enjoy themselves, a city needs to welcome creativity and life, instead of viewing it as a nuisance worthy of police interference.

"You're blocking the sidewalk," Szelest says in the video, a claim rendered ridiculous when Jones expands the shot to reveal a wide, uncrowded expanse of concrete.

It was a nice bit of documentary filmmaking. And suddenly, social media is loaded with amateur documentaries of police at work. You can watch the old good cop/bad cop routine play out on your Facebook feed.